Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Calls for Mandatory User Consent on Synthetic Content
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw delivered a significant address at the Third Annual Storyboard18 Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, outlining critical measures for digital platforms. He asserted that user consent must be mandatory for all synthetically generated content, including deepfakes and AI-created media, and urged platforms to take proactive steps to curb cyber fraud.
Platforms Must Take Responsibility for Hosted Content
Vaishnaw emphasized a shift in platform accountability, stating that the era where platforms could disclaim responsibility for content is over. "Platforms must take responsibility of what they are publishing," he declared. "Times have gone when a platform could say that they are responsible for the content. Those times have gone because the platforms have themselves changed from being pure platforms to becoming hosts to the world." He insisted that platforms must be accountable for harmful content hosted on their services.
Fair Revenue Sharing with Content Creators
Highlighting economic fairness, Vaishnaw called for social media platforms to share revenue equitably with content creators. "Social media platforms must share revenue in a fair way with content creators... including creators sitting in far-flung areas, influencers, professors... There has to be a fair share of revenue with people creating content," he stated. This move aims to support diverse voices across India's digital landscape.
Trust in Democratic Systems Under Threat
Vaishnaw underscored the foundational role of trust in democratic institutions, warning that it is increasingly under strain. "Human society is built upon trust and institution," he explained, listing institutions like family, judiciary, media, and legislature. "All these institutions were built on one fundamental premise. The premise of trust," he noted, adding that mutual trust defines their core.
However, he cautioned that this trust is now threatened by digital challenges. "The way the world is emerging today, that core tenet of trust is under threat. That threat is coming from so many different angles, deepfakes which can make you believe in things which have never happened anywhere," Vaishnaw said. He pointed to disinformation and synthetic content as key risks that can erode public confidence in societal structures.
DNPA Conclave Focuses on AI and Digital Transformation
The DNPA Conclave 2025, opened by DNPA Chairperson and Manorama Online CEO Mariam Mammen Mathew, centered on the theme "Transformation of Media in the Age of Artificial Intelligence." Mathew highlighted that AI and digital shifts are fundamentally reshaping news creation, distribution, discovery, and monetization.
The event brought together policymakers, media leaders, and industry experts to discuss:
- The evolving regulatory environment for digital communications.
- How AI is transforming newsroom workflows and content strategies.
- Building and sustaining trust in a fragmented media landscape.
- The impact of regulatory changes on stakeholders and ecosystem inclusivity.
Discussions aimed to balance innovation with consumer protection in an AI-driven era, exploring new models for audience engagement and credible information dissemination.
